The Patel community, whose protests for reservation plunged Gujarat into violence last week, has decided to launch a fresh round of agitation from Tuesday from Surat.

The Patel community, whose protests for reservation plunged Gujarat into violence last week, is launching a fresh round of agitation on Tuesday from Surat.

“We will start the agitation from Surat tomorrow… We have also planned to hold a rally at Lucknow in the coming days,” Hardik Patel, who is leading the protests, announced in Ahmedabad after his return from New Delhi on Monday.

He claimed that the agitation for reservation has gained support of several communities and the second round of agitation will attract the attention of the entire nation.

"We will make the official announcement tomorrow about our upcoming programmes and rallies to be held in the state. This time, the entire nation will have its eyes on our programme. We will walk on the path shown by Mahatma Gandhi," Hardik said.

According to him, the total population of Patels, Gujjars and Kurmis in the country is 27 crore.

"We have also planned to take signatures of all 27 crore of our members on an application demanding reservation and hand it over to the Prime Minister," he said.

Hardik also lashed out at the Gujarat police as well as the government for the violence in the state after the crackdown on Patel leaders, hours after the mega rally at GMDC ground on August 25.

"No such incident took place in all the 37 rallies we organised ahead of August 25. I hold police as well as this Gujarat government responsible for inciting violence. Otherwise, we always walked on the path shown by Gandhiji," he said.